Principles of Wound Management and Soft Tissue Repair II

Wound management and soft-tissue repair can vary depending on the location. The head and neck, chest and back, arm and forearm, hand, abdomen, gluteal area and perineum, thigh, knee, lower leg, and foot all have different local options and preferred free flaps to use for reconstruction. Secondary reconstruction requires a detailed analysis of all aspects of the wound including any scars, soft tissue and/or skin deficits, functional defects, contour defects, complex or composite defects, and/or unstable previous wound coverage. Careful monitoring of both the patient and reconstruction is necessary in the postoperative period to ensure long-term success.   This review contains 2 figures and 17 references. Key Words: free tissue transfer, pedicle flaps, soft-tissue coverage, wound closure, wound healing, wound management, wound reconstruction, tissue flaps